98 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



heavy clay lands in some parts of the county, where redtop 

 never appears, or at any rate, never reaches maturity, even if 

 the seed be carefully sown. On the lighter lands it constitutes 

 one of the most useful and beautiful of our grass crops. Herds- 

 grass, or Timothy, is, however, the recognized leading grass ; that 

 grass which yields the largest burden of good hay on well-cul- 

 tivated lands, and furnishes, when well-cured, the best fodder 

 for our cattle and horses. 



It is very important, therefore, that we should ascertain, so 

 far as may be, the best time for cutting and the best mode of 

 curing this valuable grass ; so that it may furnish the feeder 

 with the largest amount of nourishment for his animals. We 

 are not now considering the kind of hay which will make the 

 most milk, or is best adapted to calves, colts, and young stock 

 generally, or will be the permanent food of sheep. "VVe desire 

 to learn if possible, that condition of herds-grass hay, which will 

 supply the largest amount of those elements which make animal 

 fibre, fat, bones, and muscle. 



We do not think that hay which, when cured, bears a resem- 

 blance to " rowen," will do this. We have no doubt that ani- 

 mals fed on hay of this description will thrive well, when lavishly 

 fed upon it. We have no doubt that cattle fed on such hay 

 have a larger reserved capacity for consuming corn and other 

 grain, than when fed on hay of a maturer quality. The capacity 

 of cattle for consuming " rowen " seems to be unlimited. And 

 it is generally understood that it is not a profitable or an eco- 

 nomical kind of hay to feed ; and that it requires a liberal addi- 

 tional supply of grain when it is used in the process of stall 

 feeding. 



The great object of the feeder should be to have his hay in 

 such condition, as to avoid an excessive amount of grain. The 

 hay that " spends the best" is the most" valuable. A hundred 

 weight of hay which will produce as much fat with a bushel of 

 corn meal, as a hundred weight of hay of different quality will, 

 with two bushels, is certainly the more profitable for the farmer, 

 whether he feeds his animals for labor or for fat. This no one 

 will deny. That hay, moreover, which shrinks the least after 

 cutting, and at the same time retains all its nutritive qualities, 

 is the most profitable and desirable, to all who would make the 

 most of their crops. 



